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J. Andres Hannah-Suarez's avatar

Thank you for this.

Sadly, I think Selber is being disingenuous. There's no way that a 20-year military intelligence veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan doesn't know that the Geneva Conventions apparently exist.

Apparently, "stop using our weapons to commit war crimes" is a step too far for Selber ...

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jon gazzard's avatar

i think Selber is taking this issue personally, most of the american miltary work closely with the israel forces....it brings a close relationship...but this should prevent a person ,particularly if you must view such conflicts objectively and dispassionately to give a accurate projection of what you think will happen....i see several indictors of emotion and bias in his article, i think he is closer to people involved in this conflict[on the israeli side], than we know..in such cases, it can effect judgement? :( does that advocate his actions and his words? No..but we are all human,with human frailties

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J. Andres Hannah-Suarez's avatar

Yeah, fair enough and a very kind interpretation, I'm definitely too cynical.

I guess that, taking a broad contextual view on Selber's comments, I was faaaaar less disturbed about them when I thought he was just another typical right-wing political commentator who doesn't know his head from his ass in real-life experience.

When I looked Selber up and confirmed he's a 20-year Iraq & Afghanistan military intelligence veteran, I felt sick to my stomach because Selber's complete disregard for the limitations on military conduct since the Geneva Conventions, is uncomfortably congrous with the American disregard for the Geneva Conventions in both theatres of war.

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jon gazzard's avatar

yeah i also thought he would learn different lessons especially from recent conflicts especially like general petreus? well yes, but the military sphere is a wide area.....but one things for sure, like the irish problem for britain[of which we have broad knowledge here in england]where we know that the solution is not a military solution...a hammer [that many miltarymen advocate[its al they know]] is not the solution in ireland, and its not the solution here...its just makes things worse] :(

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J. Andres Hannah-Suarez's avatar

And yup the blunt instrument of war in these situations, as with Ireland, just ensures that for every militant you kill, the indiscriminate killing of civilians creates 20 more. And that's even from a purely Israeli selfish perspective that disregards the value of human life.

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